Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense convinces, present participle convincing, past tense, past participle convinced
1. verb
If someone or something convinces you of something, they make you believe that it is true or that it exists.
I soon convinced the jury of my innocence. [VERB noun + of]
It is difficult to convince the public of the need for change. [VERB noun that]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: assure, persuade, satisfy, prove to More Synonyms of convince
2. verb
If someone or something convinces you to do something, they persuade you to do it.
[mainly US]
In January, he convinced her to join him in the Pyrenees. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
[Also VERB noun]
More Synonyms of convince
convince in British English
(kənˈvɪns)
verb(transitive)
1. (may take a clause as object)
to make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something; persuade
2. mainly US
to persuade (someone) to do something
3. obsolete
a.
to overcome
b.
to prove guilty
▶ USAGE The use of convince to talk about persuading someone to do something is considered by many British speakersto be wrong or unacceptable
Derived forms
convincement (conˈvincement)
noun
convincer (conˈvincer)
noun
convincible (conˈvincible)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Latin convincere to demonstrate incontrovertibly, from com- (intensive) + vincere to overcome, conquer
convince in American English
(kənˈvɪns)
verb transitiveWord forms: conˈvinced or conˈvincing
1. Obsolete
to overcome, confute, or convict
2.
to overcome the doubts of; persuade by argument or evidence; make feel sure
Derived forms
convincer (conˈvincer)
noun
convincible (conˈvincible)
adjective
Word origin
L convincere, to overcome, convict of error < com-, intens. + vincere, to conquer: see victor
Examples of 'convince' in a sentence
convince
The harder struggle was to convince anyone to go out with me.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That tells you that no one was too convinced about him.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The government needs results to convince people that the momentum behind the deal is unstoppable.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Everyone was convinced we were going to get through and continue to the end.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was as if no one was convinced about anything.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But convincing schools to go cashless took longer than planned.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He pleaded with journalists to show him the things the team could do that would convince the public they were ethical.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They would struggle to convince the public that strike action would be a good idea and that it is not all about money.
The Sun (2016)
She said that she had been convinced that people could see her ports, valves used in reconstructive surgery.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their job is to convince you to go there.
The Sun (2016)
But still the person has to convince others about the plan.
Christianity Today (2000)
The task for his rivals is to convince the public that they offer a credible alternative.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
When people try to convince her that she is not well she sees it as a threat.
Wilkinson, Helena Beyond Chaotic Eating (1993)
Or else how is it going to convince us we should?
The Sun (2015)
But is the public at large convinced?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We know we have to convince people we can do well in the big games.
The Sun (2010)
He is utterly convinced they are going to be killed.
The Sun (2013)
He will also need to convince people he is the right man for the job.
The Sun (2016)
Find out what they have to obsess about and convince them to go to it.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Some of his colleagues were less convinced and persuaded two of the three to try self control instead.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There will be the chance to opt out but the ad campaign is there to convince people to stick the course.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Not convinced by these public schoolboys!
Cockett, Richard Thinking the Unthinkable (1994)
Their object in public discourse is not merely to inform, but to persuade and convince.
Harris, Marvin Cultural Anthropology (1995)
You have the wisdom and ability to draw a line under the past and convince people to see how good change can be.
The Sun (2013)
Sales spluttered along for a few years, but it was clear that the public were not convinced.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He launched into a little lecture on the theatre and was so convincing that he persuaded himself that he should be an actor instead.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You will win because you have more than enough brute force; but you will not convince because to convince means to persuade.
Paul Preston The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution and Revenge
I wasn't convinced about power showers until we got one.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I was far from convinced about this, but felt we had to try.
Stewart, Bob (Lt-Col) Broken Lives (1993)
I'm still not convinced about his stamina.
The Sun (2015)
But her evidence was clear enough and convincing enough to persuade the judge in the custody case and the jury in the coroner's court.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
convince
British English: convince /kənˈvɪns/ VERB
If someone or something convinces you of something, they make you believe that it is true or that it exists.
I convinced him of my innocence.
American English: convince
Arabic: يُقْنِعُ
Brazilian Portuguese: convencer
Chinese: 信服
Croatian: uvjeriti
Czech: přesvědčit
Danish: overbevise
Dutch: overtuigen
European Spanish: convencer
Finnish: vakuuttaa saada vakuuttuneeksi
French: convaincre
German: überzeugen
Greek: πείθω
Italian: convincere
Japanese: 確信させる
Korean: 납득시키다
Norwegian: overbevise
Polish: przekonać
European Portuguese: convencer
Romanian: a convinge
Russian: убеждать
Latin American Spanish: convencer
Swedish: övertyga
Thai: โน้มน้าว
Turkish: inandırmak
Ukrainian: переконувати
Vietnamese: thuyết phục
Chinese translation of 'convince'
convince
(kənˈvɪns)
vt
(= cause to believe) 使信服 (shǐ xìnfú)
(esp US, = persuade) 说(說)服 (shuōfú)
to convince sb of sth使某人相信某事 (shǐ mǒurén xiāngxìn mǒushì)
to convince sb that ... 说(說)服某人 ... (shuōfú mǒurén ... )
to convince sb to do sth (esp US) 说(說)服某人去做某事 (shuōfú mǒurén qù zuò mǒushì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to persuade by argument or evidence
I soon convinced him of my innocence.
Synonyms
assure
`Everything's going to be okay,' he assured me.
persuade
Derek persuaded me of the feasibility of the idea.
satisfy
He has to satisfy us that real progress will be made.
prove to
reassure
2 (verb)
Definition
to persuade by argument or evidence
He convinced her to take a gap year before going to university.
Synonyms
persuade
My husband persuaded me to come.
induce
I would do anything to induce them to stay.
coax
After lunch she coaxed him into talking about himself.
talk into
prevail upon
inveigle
twist (someone's) arm
bring round to the idea of
Usage note
The use of convince to talk about persuading someone to do something is considered by many British speakers to be wrong or unacceptable. It would be preferable to use an alternative such as persuade or talk into.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of coax
Definition
to persuade (someone) gently
After lunch she coaxed him into talking about himself.
Synonyms
persuade,
cajole,
talk into,
wheedle,
sweet-talk (informal),
prevail upon,
inveigle,
soft-soap (informal),
twist (someone's) arm,
flatter,
entice,
beguile,
allure
in the sense of induce
Definition
to persuade or use influence on
I would do anything to induce them to stay.
Synonyms
persuade,
encourage,
influence,
get,
move,
press,
draw,
convince,
urge,
prompt,
sway,
entice,
coax,
incite,
impel,
talk someone into,
prevail upon,
actuate
in the sense of satisfy
Definition
to convince
He has to satisfy us that real progress will be made.